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Monday, January 31, 2005
toronto
Saturday afternoon, I interview a Polish woman, who arrived in Canada 13 years ago. She loves Brampton. "Anything is better than communism," she says once. She had never seen people from other races before she arrived in Toronto. She thinks this place is amazing. This is not the first time i've heard this from the mouths of my interviewees.
That night I head over to the JCCC after work. There, my brother will receive a scholarship from Shinkikai. Wait to board the train at Sheppard station for Don Mills station. Train arrives. Doors to the car open. Shouts punctuate the air. Upon entrance, a family of three is arguing with two teenagers holding skateboards. Dark, angry wheel marks criss-crossing each other on the floor of the car. Thin tracks colliding with thicker ones, fighting for space. The mother’s eyes are wide and livid. The teenagers bait her with dismissive hand gestures and effortless insults. The mother pushes the baby carriage out of the car, her body attempting to shield her child but twists to hurl reprimands, head high, voice shrill. The parents yell for the train conductor. The teenagers spit out accusations of harassment.
Then one boy yells out,
“Are you even legal in this country??”
His voice echoes.
The father crosses over the threshold, quickly, quietly, furiously. The father walks straight up to the one standing, and places his face so close to the boy’s, the boy can’t ignore him. Their faces nearly touch. The father jabs a finger in the space that divides them, mutters a threat barely audible. Yet the angry tremors of his voice ripple through the car.
The boy yells at the father to back off. The father stalks off, enraged strides cut through the air. The air reverberates. The mother volleys one more shot. Snickering, the boys turn their backs.
A girl around my age in a brown tweed coat asks me if it’s safe to sit in this car.
I say I think so.
The car fills up with passengers, a blur of colour. The boys’ faces blend in with the others. I don’t remember them leaving.
Saturday afternoon, I interview a Polish woman, who arrived in Canada 13 years ago. She loves Brampton. "Anything is better than communism," she says once. She had never seen people from other races before she arrived in Toronto. She thinks this place is amazing. This is not the first time i've heard this from the mouths of my interviewees.
That night I head over to the JCCC after work. There, my brother will receive a scholarship from Shinkikai. Wait to board the train at Sheppard station for Don Mills station. Train arrives. Doors to the car open. Shouts punctuate the air. Upon entrance, a family of three is arguing with two teenagers holding skateboards. Dark, angry wheel marks criss-crossing each other on the floor of the car. Thin tracks colliding with thicker ones, fighting for space. The mother’s eyes are wide and livid. The teenagers bait her with dismissive hand gestures and effortless insults. The mother pushes the baby carriage out of the car, her body attempting to shield her child but twists to hurl reprimands, head high, voice shrill. The parents yell for the train conductor. The teenagers spit out accusations of harassment.
Then one boy yells out,
“Are you even legal in this country??”
His voice echoes.
The father crosses over the threshold, quickly, quietly, furiously. The father walks straight up to the one standing, and places his face so close to the boy’s, the boy can’t ignore him. Their faces nearly touch. The father jabs a finger in the space that divides them, mutters a threat barely audible. Yet the angry tremors of his voice ripple through the car.
The boy yells at the father to back off. The father stalks off, enraged strides cut through the air. The air reverberates. The mother volleys one more shot. Snickering, the boys turn their backs.
A girl around my age in a brown tweed coat asks me if it’s safe to sit in this car.
I say I think so.
The car fills up with passengers, a blur of colour. The boys’ faces blend in with the others. I don’t remember them leaving.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
omg...
i was reading LinWay's site, and Linda mentioned this anime, Azumanga Daioh, which has a character that seemed to match my personality. so i took this quiz... and this is who i got...
!!
o_0
yappari tennenboKE!!!!!!!!
i was reading LinWay's site, and Linda mentioned this anime, Azumanga Daioh, which has a character that seemed to match my personality. so i took this quiz... and this is who i got...
!!
o_0
yappari tennenboKE!!!!!!!!
for me n akiko
Perhaps the deepest obligation of any foreigner in a place he loves that’s not his own is to remember, daily, that his paradise is a fallen one, if only because it is an everyday reality to those around him...
the global soul || pico iyer
Perhaps the deepest obligation of any foreigner in a place he loves that’s not his own is to remember, daily, that his paradise is a fallen one, if only because it is an everyday reality to those around him...
the global soul || pico iyer
Monday, January 24, 2005
at least i pay rent...
i just found out that i am a "twixter," which is a nicer label coined by TIME magazine, than the japanese term, "parasite single."
oy.
here is half of the TIME article.
i just found out that i am a "twixter," which is a nicer label coined by TIME magazine, than the japanese term, "parasite single."
oy.
here is half of the TIME article.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
dec 2004/jan 2005
these are my spirit fingers
tomo
family bowl night I
family bowl night II
hello Donkeys.
2 of my favourite ALTs
the fabulous ms.ip
roxy blu
samishiiwa~
these are my spirit fingers
tomo
family bowl night I
family bowl night II
hello Donkeys.
2 of my favourite ALTs
the fabulous ms.ip
roxy blu
samishiiwa~
Saturday, January 22, 2005
saturdays at the library
it's storming and beautiful outside.
i am so mellowed out right now. i kind of like working on saturdays now... the library is operating on a skeleton staff, so there aren't crazy admin people running amuck and leaving a trail of voice mail messages on every phone they pass by... corporate versions of hansel and gretel!
i finally finished editing an interview... mind you it was one of the shorter ones, but still! success!
i've been listening to ms.yamagata's CD all afternoon, especially "be your love", "reason why" and "i'll find a way" -->hence the mellowness. she has such an awesome voice.
reason why || rachael yamagata
I think about how it might have been
We'd spend our days travelin'
It's not that I don't understand you
It's not that I don't want to be with you
But you only wanted me
The way you wanted me
So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
And we can hang our heads down as we skip the goodbyes
You can tell the world what you want them to hear
I've got nothing left to lose, my dear
So, I'm up for the little white lies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, and you're still there
I'll buy a magazine searching for your face
From coast to coast, or whatever I find my place
I'll track you on the radio
And I'll sign your list in a different name
But as close as I come to you
It's not the same
So, steal the show
And do your best to cover the tracks that I have left
I wish you well and hope you find whatever you're looking for
The way I might've changed my mind
But you only showed me the door
So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back and say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I know the reason why
ha HA!
it's storming and beautiful outside.
i am so mellowed out right now. i kind of like working on saturdays now... the library is operating on a skeleton staff, so there aren't crazy admin people running amuck and leaving a trail of voice mail messages on every phone they pass by... corporate versions of hansel and gretel!
i finally finished editing an interview... mind you it was one of the shorter ones, but still! success!
i've been listening to ms.yamagata's CD all afternoon, especially "be your love", "reason why" and "i'll find a way" -->hence the mellowness. she has such an awesome voice.
reason why || rachael yamagata
I think about how it might have been
We'd spend our days travelin'
It's not that I don't understand you
It's not that I don't want to be with you
But you only wanted me
The way you wanted me
So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
And we can hang our heads down as we skip the goodbyes
You can tell the world what you want them to hear
I've got nothing left to lose, my dear
So, I'm up for the little white lies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, and you're still there
I'll buy a magazine searching for your face
From coast to coast, or whatever I find my place
I'll track you on the radio
And I'll sign your list in a different name
But as close as I come to you
It's not the same
So, steal the show
And do your best to cover the tracks that I have left
I wish you well and hope you find whatever you're looking for
The way I might've changed my mind
But you only showed me the door
So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back and say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I know the reason why
ha HA!
Thursday, January 20, 2005
a;sdjfwemxck2@#$%^#@$%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i just lost the entire interview i've been editing since 10am. KILL ME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY DO THE VIDEO EDITING GODS HATE ME???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
i just lost the entire interview i've been editing since 10am. KILL ME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY DO THE VIDEO EDITING GODS HATE ME???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Monday, January 17, 2005
and so the horror begins...
the video editing software has been installed.
it took me a couple of hours to upload 1/2 of arnel and mitos' interview (gah) and then another panic-filled half-hour to actually find the file.
i have 10 interviews on tape, and have another 10 interviews to conduct. i have to finish editing, formatting and cataloguing everything by the end of february.
i already have mole-like vision, and fear i will be considered legally blind by the end of this.
i am not really sure what i am doing.
and i didn't get enough sleep this weekend, so am feeling extra spacey. i vaguely remember promises of korean food and skating on saturday though.
the video editing software has been installed.
it took me a couple of hours to upload 1/2 of arnel and mitos' interview (gah) and then another panic-filled half-hour to actually find the file.
i have 10 interviews on tape, and have another 10 interviews to conduct. i have to finish editing, formatting and cataloguing everything by the end of february.
i already have mole-like vision, and fear i will be considered legally blind by the end of this.
i am not really sure what i am doing.
and i didn't get enough sleep this weekend, so am feeling extra spacey. i vaguely remember promises of korean food and skating on saturday though.
Friday, January 14, 2005
slumped forward
oh MY. why is it only 4:28?????????????? for the love of my rainboots, why????
i am so tired. SO TIRED!
tonight is going to be Rest and Recuperation night, which means a date with Stacey & Clinton, those fab fashion gurus, eating a bucketload of fruit, and sweet sweet sleep. and maybe popcorn.
i don't want to work tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whine whine whine whine.
i am SO over this working 6 days a week thing. thankfully it won't be for much longer. whine whine whine whine.
oh MY. why is it only 4:28?????????????? for the love of my rainboots, why????
i am so tired. SO TIRED!
tonight is going to be Rest and Recuperation night, which means a date with Stacey & Clinton, those fab fashion gurus, eating a bucketload of fruit, and sweet sweet sleep. and maybe popcorn.
i don't want to work tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whine whine whine whine.
i am SO over this working 6 days a week thing. thankfully it won't be for much longer. whine whine whine whine.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
It’s going to be a long month.
Ima, watashi no kokoro ga itai. Argh.
Anyways.
Recent highlights include...
-found these cuties on jcrew.com...Come to mommy...
Yes, those ARE pink flamingoes!!!
-family and friends in Indonesia and Malaysia are a-ok
-Thanks to Peter G, I got to see Russell Peters last week! (again, apologies to Kathy, Mary, Rob, Christina and sister for my major ticket screw-up). He was pretty funny when he was doing off the cuff bits with the audience. There was one impression he did of an HK fob playing the DDR game, complete with necessary trash talk: “That’s HIIGH score! Beat that!” ahahahhaa…I nearly collapsed. The audience was mostly south and east asian... It looked like an economics and pharmacology class at UT. His ending was weak though-I could’ve done without hearing about the hot deaf girl he wanted to sleep with. Anyhoo, it was a pretty solid show, and I am v.grateful to Peter G for being competent and able, unlike yours truly.
-i broke 100... TWICE!! on Family Bowling Night
-went to Ka Chi again on Saturday for Korean food… is it alarming that I was dreaming about that meal yesterday? Mmm.. gamja-tang and chap chae… drool! i really need to marry a korean boy so i can get hooked up with a korean mom-in-law who will cook me korean food every weekend.
-my limbs are quite sore but it’s a good dodgeball/vball sore. During dodgeball, I desperately wished I had Man-Hands so I could grip the ball better, and actually HIT someone!! ( I did manage however to get Jon out when he was thoroughly distracted ...sneaky sneaky...hahahah)
-i want to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ima, watashi no kokoro ga itai. Argh.
Anyways.
Recent highlights include...
-found these cuties on jcrew.com...Come to mommy...
Yes, those ARE pink flamingoes!!!
-family and friends in Indonesia and Malaysia are a-ok
-Thanks to Peter G, I got to see Russell Peters last week! (again, apologies to Kathy, Mary, Rob, Christina and sister for my major ticket screw-up). He was pretty funny when he was doing off the cuff bits with the audience. There was one impression he did of an HK fob playing the DDR game, complete with necessary trash talk: “That’s HIIGH score! Beat that!” ahahahhaa…I nearly collapsed. The audience was mostly south and east asian... It looked like an economics and pharmacology class at UT. His ending was weak though-I could’ve done without hearing about the hot deaf girl he wanted to sleep with. Anyhoo, it was a pretty solid show, and I am v.grateful to Peter G for being competent and able, unlike yours truly.
-i broke 100... TWICE!! on Family Bowling Night
-went to Ka Chi again on Saturday for Korean food… is it alarming that I was dreaming about that meal yesterday? Mmm.. gamja-tang and chap chae… drool! i really need to marry a korean boy so i can get hooked up with a korean mom-in-law who will cook me korean food every weekend.
-my limbs are quite sore but it’s a good dodgeball/vball sore. During dodgeball, I desperately wished I had Man-Hands so I could grip the ball better, and actually HIT someone!! ( I did manage however to get Jon out when he was thoroughly distracted ...sneaky sneaky...hahahah)
-i want to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, January 07, 2005
100 Love Sonnets || Pablo Neruda
With the patience of a bear, Diego Rivera
hunted through paint for the forest’s emerald,
or vermillion, the blood’s sudden flower;
in your picture he gathered the light of the world.
He painted the imperious clothing of your nose,
the spark of your cantering eyes,
your nails that fuel the moon’s envy,
and, in your summery skin, the melon of your mouth.
He gave you two heads of molten volcanoes,
for fire, for love, for your Araucan lineage,
and over the two golden faces of clay
he covered you with a helmet of noble fire:
there my eyes lingered, in secret,
tangled in your full and towering hair.
~LXXVI
With the patience of a bear, Diego Rivera
hunted through paint for the forest’s emerald,
or vermillion, the blood’s sudden flower;
in your picture he gathered the light of the world.
He painted the imperious clothing of your nose,
the spark of your cantering eyes,
your nails that fuel the moon’s envy,
and, in your summery skin, the melon of your mouth.
He gave you two heads of molten volcanoes,
for fire, for love, for your Araucan lineage,
and over the two golden faces of clay
he covered you with a helmet of noble fire:
there my eyes lingered, in secret,
tangled in your full and towering hair.
~LXXVI
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
"take the dive in 2005!"
happy new year! i'm not doing resolutions in a formal way this year... just working on stuff that constantly needs attention. however, since this is a potent list-situation, some semblance of a list must be created:
Delusions of Grandeur (so far)
1. theme song for 2005: Switchfoot's More Than Fine (thanks Liz!)
2. I WILL join NTUC's summer league, even if i have to sign-up by my poor poor lonesome (i hope everyone i cherish is feeling incredibly guilty right now), and play softball (but only on a seniors team)
3. organize b&w pictures
4. figure out freaking aperture setting
5. fishing/camping trip x2
6. write 2-kyuu
7. um...pass my G2...again... (stop laughing)
8. help establish solid C&C ministry
9. participate in a Toronto HfH build
10. keep VISA balance at zero
11. and oh yeah, figure out my life.
happy new year! i'm not doing resolutions in a formal way this year... just working on stuff that constantly needs attention. however, since this is a potent list-situation, some semblance of a list must be created:
Delusions of Grandeur (so far)
1. theme song for 2005: Switchfoot's More Than Fine (thanks Liz!)
2. I WILL join NTUC's summer league, even if i have to sign-up by my poor poor lonesome (i hope everyone i cherish is feeling incredibly guilty right now), and play softball (but only on a seniors team)
3. organize b&w pictures
4. figure out freaking aperture setting
5. fishing/camping trip x2
6. write 2-kyuu
7. um...pass my G2...again... (stop laughing)
8. help establish solid C&C ministry
9. participate in a Toronto HfH build
10. keep VISA balance at zero
11. and oh yeah, figure out my life.
